tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post7195097010607274176..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: Scary Clowns and Fictional RealityLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-14634312381665573492008-10-16T13:26:00.000-04:002008-10-16T13:26:00.000-04:00Thanks for these great comments. I agree with you...Thanks for these great comments. I agree with you all!<BR/><BR/>Felicia, that's a great resource. My son is just getting into the web and so of course I have many concerns.<BR/><BR/>GM, I do think that it's different. Sure, children have probably always been abducted, but my husband is always lamenting to our children (who roll their eyes) that he used to "go out after breakfast, come home for lunch, and show back up around dinner" and all the rest of the time he was just out playing, playing, playing with friends. Even he has to admit, though, that he would not be trusting enough to let his child be gone for four hours without knowing where he was.<BR/><BR/>Sue Ann, you're so right. There's something evil in the desire to destroy innocence, but perhaps that's a compulsion of those whose innocence has been irreparably destroyed--misery loves company. And what a sad story about that boy.<BR/><BR/>Mark, I do think that children can innately sense what is wrong, although sometimes they may sense it too late (and it may also depend on their age and their nature). <BR/><BR/>Terri, I agree. It always happened--and got no coverage. When I think of how many homeless children wandered the streets of the Bowery at the turn of the century (reportedly about 10,000 young people), I wonder how many of them simply "disappeared," and no one was the wiser.Julia Buckleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270211923343731659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-40494161050484639682008-10-16T11:27:00.000-04:002008-10-16T11:27:00.000-04:00As Geneva said, we used to wander around in the wo...As Geneva said, we used to wander around in the woods for hours on end. Nobody was afraid. And yet it probably WAS happening. I think its just more out there now - in the news, from the victims etc... <BR/><BR/>As for clowns, always hated 'em.....Terri P aka WindDancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03963709936991330561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-5103884724963473652008-10-16T10:59:00.000-04:002008-10-16T10:59:00.000-04:00I piggy back on Bill and Felicia's comments. I on...I piggy back on Bill and Felicia's comments. <BR/><BR/>I once saw a piece on TV about this topic where one expert suggested that you train your kids to recognize safe people. Their tactic was to sit with the child in a busy mall and ask the child, "If you were lost, who would you approach for help?" It was uncanny how intuitive the children were. Sad to say, it typically wasn't a male - unless he was a security guard. But they could sense who was good and who was most likely to help them. But I don't think you can trust your kids to "know" this. Training with them helps. Because if they are lost on the street, they will need help. Better for them to get help from the right person.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and Sue Ann. Amen sister!Mark Combeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01270361794228887282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-36554499952767275502008-10-16T10:27:00.000-04:002008-10-16T10:27:00.000-04:00There's a special place in Hell for people who lur...There's a special place in Hell for people who lure, molest, kill, exploit, and stalk children. I'm sure of it.<BR/><BR/>Years ago, in Arizona, a neighbor boy was taken from right outside his apartment door. His body was later found in the desert. The entire community "died a little" because of it, including those of us without children.<BR/><BR/>No matter what caused that monster to drop off that little girl unharmed, I so thankful he did it. And I so thankful your neighbor didn't have to go through the ultimate horror.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-47499440677975028862008-10-16T10:20:00.000-04:002008-10-16T10:20:00.000-04:00I don't think my parents had to worry so much back...I don't think my parents had to worry so much back in the day. I'd wander in after dark at all ages. Am I imagining it or are there a lot more child abductions than there used to be?G.M. Malliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805971625496094303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-44951950277331342772008-10-16T09:19:00.000-04:002008-10-16T09:19:00.000-04:00Julia, thank you for this. Your words, "Meanw...Julia, thank you for this. Your words, "Meanwhile, Laura died a little inside," spoke to every parent who has ever experienced that moment of fear. Know that every law enforcement agency takes missing children cases very seriously. I have watched many an officer go out on their own off-duty time to look for kids. <BR/><BR/>The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has a great website at www.missingkids.com that has many safety tips for parents, kids and schools including "Know the Rules: Going To/From School Safely." I would encourage all parents to visit this site to learn more about how to keep their kids safe.<BR/><BR/>Too many times, parents think their children are safe because they're at home under their roofs when, in fact, their children are communicating with a stranger on line who has befriended them. There's NO reason why a child should not be monitored when on the Internet. There's NO reason why a child should have access to a webcam without supervision. Statistically speaking, children have a far greater chance of being accosted on-line than in person.<BR/><BR/>Julia, I'm so glad your story had a happy ending... <BR/><BR/>Felicia Donovan<BR/>CYBER CRIME FIGHTERS: TALES FROM THE TRENCHESFelicia Donovanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03556232226152556397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-20903969024609069212008-10-16T07:52:00.000-04:002008-10-16T07:52:00.000-04:00Yeah. In a way the clown guy is doing us a favor-...Yeah. In a way the clown guy is doing us a favor--at least he's recognizable.Julia Buckleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270211923343731659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-82325413234897406502008-10-16T00:38:00.000-04:002008-10-16T00:38:00.000-04:00The problem with the whole Stranger Danger model i...The problem with the whole Stranger Danger model is that with children, a person can go from being a stranger to a friend in an instant. "Mommy said you could," has all the validity of mommy actually handing the child over to the care of someone when said by a smiling face. When we say, "Don't go with strangers," children often construct an image of The Stranger, a villainous beast (Tim Curry as It? Those Marcel Marceau faces on the famous edition of Camus's The Stranger back in the 70s?) that the average predator doesn't match.Bill Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04796321136771189464noreply@blogger.com